Ethics, Safety & Professional Practice Flashcards
7 cards from real ABA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethics, Safety & Professional Practice flashcards as text
An audiologist discovers a colleague is billing Medicare for auditory brainstem response (ABR) tests that were not performed. What is the most appropriate first action?
Answer: Report the concern through internal compliance channels or to the appropriate regulatory body
Audiologists have an ethical and legal obligation to report suspected fraud or misconduct through proper compliance or regulatory channels.
Under HIPAA, which of the following constitutes a permissible disclosure of protected health information (PHI) without patient authorization?
Answer: Providing records to another treating provider involved in the patient's care
HIPAA permits disclosure of PHI to other treating providers for treatment purposes without explicit patient authorization.
An audiologist is fitting a hearing aid on a patient who lacks decision-making capacity and has no legal guardian. Who should provide informed consent?
Answer: The patient's closest available family member acting as a surrogate
When a patient lacks capacity and has no legal guardian, the closest surrogate decision-maker (typically next of kin) provides consent.
A patient requests their complete audiological records. Under HIPAA, within how many days must the covered entity respond to this request?
Answer: 60 days
HIPAA requires covered entities to act on patient record requests within 60 days, with one possible 30-day extension.
Which behavior most clearly violates the AAA Code of Ethics principle of autonomy?
Answer: Withholding diagnostic results to prevent patient distress without their consent
Withholding information from patients without consent undermines autonomy by preventing informed decision-making.
An audiologist works in a school setting and suspects a child is being physically abused. What is the appropriate course of action?
Answer: Report the suspicion to child protective services as required by mandatory reporting laws
Audiologists are mandatory reporters and must report suspected child abuse to child protective services immediately.
An audiologist is approached to provide expert witness testimony in a legal case involving a patient's hearing loss claim. Which ethical obligation is most critical?
Answer: Provide only testimony that reflects accurate scientific and clinical knowledge
Expert witnesses have an ethical obligation to provide truthful, evidence-based testimony regardless of who retained them.